The Colt Government
Model was introduced in 1912 and was quite successful. When WWI ended
there were many veterans who were comfortable with the big .45 Auto and
N.R.A. sponsored shooting matches became quite popular. However, shooting
bulls eye targets at fixed ranges demanded a level of accuracy that was
often missing from the standard Government Model. Early 1911 gunsmiths
like Pachmayr and Buchanan would fit better sights and barrels to improve
performance, and Colt’s offered specially selected “Match Barrels” that were
marked with a circled MB on the left lug. A survey of the Colt shipping
records of the 1920’s show many special order guns with tweaked trigger
pulls, match barrels, and wider sights to improve functionality.

Finally,
in January 1932, the Colt catalog listed the first National Match model
with “a hand-honed velvet smooth target action—selected ‘Match’ barrel—and
‘Patridge’ type sights.” In 1935 the Stevens adjustable rear sight became
standard, even though their use was prohibited in the competitive matches
of the day.

The number of National
Match pistols produced is open to speculation. They were not given a
special serial number, nor were they identified in the production ledgers.
They fall randomly in the serial number range from C162000 (1932) to
C215083 (1940) which covers about 53,000 pistols. However, approximately
25,000 of those pistols were shipped overseas and 6,575 were transferred
to Colt’s military contract in 1942, which leaves about 21,500 pistols
available for the American market. Timothy J. Mullin, author of
American Beauty, The Prewar Colt National Match Government Model Pistol,
estimates fewer than 1,500 National Match pistols were made, but located
less than 150 examples before publishing his book in 1999. Charles W.
Clawson, author of Colt .45 Government Models (Commercial Series),
puts the estimate at fewer than 3,000. I have managed to locate and verify
another 65 or so, not included in Mullin’s survey. Given the time period in which these
guns were produced—1932 to 1940, i.e. The Great Depression—the actual
number produced may be much smaller than previous estimates. At the
time, a standard Government Model cost $36.75 and a National Match cost
$40.75. During the depression, 90% of the population made less than
$5,000 per year and probably half of those employed made less than $2,500
per year.

Military Prewar National Match Pistols

The National Match
proved to be popular with military shooting teams as well as civilians.
Several batches were known to have been purchased for competitive use.
The Coast Guard bought seven pistols (C162997 – C163003) in 1932 and
another batch of six in 1940. Also in 1940 the Marine Corps bought 15
(C201076 – C201090). Individual officers sometimes purchased Government
Models or National Match pistols privately. At least two were shipped to
CCC Camps in the 1930’s and one is known to have gone to an officer in the
Panama Canal Zone.

The
Postwar National Match

In
1957, Colt reintroduced a "National Match" pistol that had adjustable
sights and trigger, and slanted slide serrations. It was officially
designated the "Colt Gold Cup National Match," although "Gold Cup" wasn't
added to the slide until 1970. These pistols are serial numbered 26-NM to
37025-NM.

Pre-WWII
Government Models

Colt
started assembling M1911 pistols for the Ordnance Department in December
1911 and by March 1912 they were also producing the “Colt Government Model
Automatic Pistol, Calibre .45.” It was a huge success and was
manufactured exactly like the Model 1911 pistols except for markings,
hammers and bluing. The early mirror-like finish and fire-blue small
parts of the early commercial pistols are incredible.

The pistols evolved with the M1911 service model but
commercial pistols were not manufactured or shipped in numerical
sequence. This fact, coupled with overlap of old practices and transition
periods, leads to confusion about when changes to small parts, finish,
markings and other features were actually implemented.

From
the very beginning, other countries were as interested in the big Colt as
the U.S. military was and many countries bought Government Models for
their own troops and officers. Some, such as Norway and Argentina,
purchased licenses to manufacture their 1911 pistols. Great Britain
commissioned a version of the pistol in its standard calibre—.455 Webley.
A surprising fact that isn’t appreciated by many collectors is that more
Government Models were shipped overseas than stayed in the U.S. From 1912
to 1919 there were 110,696 Government Models produced and 80,978, or 73%,
were shipped to other countries. Another 26,532 were manufactured between
1919 and 1924, of which 3,648 went overseas. In the period of February
1924 to May 1942 foreign sales accounted for 49,033 pistols and 6,575 were
transferred to U.S. contracts, leaving only 48,779 for commercial sales in
the U.S. So, in total, about 133,000 pistols went to fill foreign
contracts out of a total of 238,000 made before June 1942.Sources: Charles W. Clawson, Colt .45
Government Models (Commercial Series)William H.D. Goddard,
The Government Models